The West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville stands as one of the most imposing historic prisons in the United States, operating for more than a century from 1876 until its closure in 1995. Built to resemble a medieval fortress, the prison features Gothic Revival architecture, massive sandstone walls, battlements, turrets, and crenellated towers. Its enormous façade stretches for nearly three city blocks, creating an intimidating appearance that reflected the institution’s purpose as a place of strict security and confinement. Over the years, the prison became severely overcrowded, eventually holding more than 2,000 inmates despite being designed for a much smaller population. Among its most notorious prisoners was Harry Powers, a serial killer who was executed at the penitentiary in 1932. The prison also briefly housed Charles Manson during his younger years. Executions were another dark part of the penitentiary’s history, with prisoners initially being hanged before the electric chair, famously known as “Old Sparky,” was introduced. As the decades passed, overcrowding, violence, deteriorating buildings, and poor living conditions became increasingly serious problems. Tensions eventually erupted into major disturbances, including deadly riots in 1973 and 1979. The most infamous uprising took place on New Year’s Day in 1986, when a group of inmates known as the Avengers seized control of part of the prison and took correctional officers hostage. The standoff lasted approximately two days and ended with three inmates dead, while the hostages were ultimately released. During the crisis, West Virginia Governor Arch Moore entered the prison and personally participated in negotiations with the inmates. The riot brought national attention to the terrible conditions inside the penitentiary, including broken locks, overcrowding, inadequate plumbing, and crumbling infrastructure. Later that year, the West Virginia Supreme Court ruled that the prison’s cramped five-by-seven-foot cells amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. The remaining prisoners were eventually transferred elsewhere, and the penitentiary officially closed in 1995 after 129 years of operation. Today, the massive Gothic complex remains a historic attraction, allowing visitors to explore its cell blocks, execution facilities, and other areas while learning about the infamous people, violent incidents, and troubled history that shaped the West Virginia Penitentiary.